INTRODUCTION
Outline.
Regeneration to Christ
Remarks.
1. We will investigate the Holy Spirit’s work in our regeneration to Christ. No one can come to God or be converted to Christ, without the work of the Holy Spirit. Nor can we be called the “sons of God”; without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. The bible sets forth this precedence: “God has granted the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit into the life of the sons of God.”
3. The obedient believers are granted the Holy Spirit to dwell in them, “personally, as well as, through the word of God.”
4. The Pentecostal had first “received the word,” as a result of Peter’s preaching; and were before promised: “the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost” upon their, “repentance and baptism into the name of Jesus Christ,” Acts 2:38. Paul affirms: “Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit), he is none of his,” Romans 8:9.
BODY OF LESSON
REGENERATION TO CHRIST
A. Spirit’s work in regeneration. Paul reminds Titus: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration... That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Titus 3:5-7. We will note, the Spirit’s work in the regeneration process.
B. Spirit’s work in the “new birth.” Notice: “Jesus said: I say unto thee, except a man is born again; he cannot see the kingdom of God... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter ...kingdom of God,” John 3:3-5.
1. Jesus speaks of two components that are required to undergo the “new birth.” They are, the “water and the Spirit.” Many would argue this point; but Jesus is includes them both in the “new birth.”
2. Both components must be present during the regeneration process. And, we see both of them in the conversion of the treasurer by Philip, Acts 8:26-39.
3. The Spirit enables the teaching of Christ; and the water enables the regeneration, or the baptism into Christ, Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8.
4. Baptism is where:
a. Regeneration occurs. Paul writes: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? ... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God,” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
b. We are born again. Peter writes: “See ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit… Being born again... abideth forever,” 1 Peter 1:22-23.
c. We are saved. Peter again: “Which sometimes were disobedient… The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also NOW save us …by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 3:20-21; Mark 16:16-16.
d. Conclusion: The Holy Spirit converts through the word and our obedience to the truth. At which time our “sins are wash away,” Acts 22:16. And we receive the “gift of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:38. This is the Holy Spirit’s work in our regeneration to Christ.
C. Quickening power of the Godhead. The Spirit is the “quickening power of God in the new birth.” The Father, Son and Holy Spirit “quickeneth to give eternal life.” Notice:
1. The Spirit quickeneth: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life,” John 6:63.
2. The Son quickeneth: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will,” John 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 14:9.
3. The Father quickeneth: “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things,” 1 Timothy 6:13. It is God the Father, “who quickeneth all things.” Notice:
a. First, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in … and sins,” Ephesians 2:1-3. Paul speaks to our condition before our quickening with Christ; and the Father’s great love “wherewith He loved us.”
b. Further, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love... When we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved),” Ephesians 2:4-5. Several things happened when we WERE WITH CHRIST. Notice:
1) First, we were “dead in our trespasses and sins.”
2) Second, we were “quicken with Christ” or “made alive,” by God.
3) Third, “(by grace we are saved).”
4) Fourth, we were “forgiven all trespasses,” Romans 6:5-6; Colossians 2:13.
5) Conclusion: Where did all this occur? This all happen in baptism, when we were with Christ. Paul further discusses the regeneration process.
c. Next, “But God, who hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come... he might shew,” Ephesians 2:6-7. Paul writes the same things regarding the Roman’s baptism into Christ, Romans 6:3-7.
d. Additionally, he states: “For by grace are ye saved through (the) faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works ...lest any should boast,” Ephesians 2:8-9.
1) Paul affirms that it is “by grace we are saved through the faith” or the “system of faith,” and not of works lest any could claim.
2) It is important to note here, that the translators did not include the “article – the” in Ephesians 2:8; though it is in the original manuscript as: “dia tes pisteou1.” The article (tes) is also found in Colossians 2:12, and several other verses, that we will discuss later in this lesson. I should also note that the absence of the article (the) was discussed in depth, in the lesson entitled: By Grace Ye are Saved. Ask the technicians for a copy. They are free.
e. Finally, “For we are his workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10.
D. Operation of God. Notice: “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,” Colossians 2:11-12. Notice:
1. Putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
2. Buried with him (Christ) in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him.
3. Through the faith (dia tes pisteou1) of the operation (energeias) of God, who hath raised Him (Christ) from the dead,” Colossians 2:12. As promised we will now discuss the absence of the article (tes1) in some other verses that describes our regeneration. Notice:
a. First, in the Letter to the Galatians: “For ye are all the children of God through the faith in Christ Jesus,” Galatians 3:26. See also Galatians 3:14. The promise of the Spirit is given “through the faith”; or by “hearing of faith” and not by the works of the Law, Galatians 3:1-3.
b. Second, in the Letter to the Ephesians: “For by grace are ye saved through the faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8.
c. Third, in the Letter to the Philippians: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,” Philippians 3:9.
4. We being dead in our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh.
5. He hath quickened us together with him, having forgiven us all trespasses.
6. Illustrate: Buried With Him in Baptism, Romans 6:1-6.
7. Paul connects this process with the Letters to the Colossians; Romans and Ephesians. Each presents the same message of regeneration.
8. 1(Reference: Textus Receptus, taken from the Greek Text of Stephens 1550), The Englishman’s Greek New Testament, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, First Zondervan Printing, 1970.
E. Spirit dwelleth in us. Paul affirms that the Holy Spirit dwelleth in us, the Christian; after we have believed, and obeyed the gospel of God. Notice:
1. Quicken our mortal bodies: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you,” Romans 8:11.
2. We are the temple of God: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” See 1 Corinthians 3:16.
3. Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost: “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
4. Holy Ghost dwelleth in us: “That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us,” 2 Timothy 1:14.
5. Confess Jesus: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God,” 1 John 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:26-27.
6. Keep his commandments: “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us,” 1 John 3:24.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
Regeneration to Christ
B. Remarks.
1. We investigated the Holy Spirit’s work in our regeneration to Christ. No one can come to God or be converted to Christ, without the work of the Holy Spirit. Nor can we be called the “sons of God”; without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. The bible sets forth this precedence: God has granted the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit into the life of the “sons of God.”
3. The obedient believers are granted the Holy Spirit to dwell in them, “personally, as well as, through the word of God.”
4. The Pentecostal had first “received the word,” as a result of Peter’s preaching; and were before promised: “the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost” upon their, “repentance and baptism into the name of Jesus Christ,” Acts 2:38. Paul affirms: “Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit), he is none of his,” Romans 8:9. I thank you for your patience in this lesson.
C. Invitation.
D. Motivation.
E. Persuasion.
